Lincoln County Winter Bird Drive

CHECK IT OUT

Distance: 85 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Driving time: 3-5 hours

Season: Dec. through Feb.

Maps: Washington Atlas and Gazateer or Lincoln County map

Info: Spokane Audubon Society, 448-2447

BIRDWATCHING TRIP NOTES

Access: Route begins at junction of U.S. Highway 2 and State Highway 231 in Reardan.

Attractions: Arctic migrants such as snowy owls, gyrfalcons, rough-legged hawks and snow buntings frequent this portion of Lincoln County in winter. Route follows roads normally plowed and leads to areas ripe for seeing other wintering bird species, including great horned owls, short-eared owls, northern harriers, kestrels, horned larks, northern shrikes, magpies, ravens, Hungarian partridge, Bohemian waxwings, rosy finches and perhaps Lapland longspurs.

Driving directions: Drive west 1 mile on Highway 2 and turn right toward Riffe Road. (From here, roads are not signed.) Stay on pavement 2-3/4 miles and bear left (west) onto gravel road. Follow road 2-1/2 miles and turn right (west). Drive 2 miles to Mondovi and turn right (north).

Go straight 2-1/2 miles and follow road left (west). Go 2 miles (under power line) and follow road north for 1/2 mile, then west again 1-1/2 miles to T. Head left (south) 3 miles to T and turn right (west) onto pavement to Davenport, which is 20 miles into featured route.

Drive through Davenport on Highway 2 and turn south on Highway 28 toward Harrington. Drive 13 miles to Harrington and turn right onto Coffee Pot Road.

Go 1-3/4 miles and continue straight on paved Rocklyn Road. At Highway 2 turn right (east). Just before Davenport, turn right onto road that leads past cemetery (look for tall spruces).

At Highway 28, (32 miles into route) go south retracing 6 miles, and turn left (east) onto Bluestem Road (milepost 124). Follow pavement to Edwall and head 12 miles north on Highway 231 to Highway 2. Drive back to Reardan on Highway 2 or old state highway.

Comments: Most roads on route offer safe places to pull off and view birds. Car is good blind; stay in it when possible. Use binoculars. Explore other county roads, but never trespass on private land without permission.

Horned larks often congregate on roads to pick up seeds, grain, grit. Sometimes hundreds in flock. Horned larks found here year-round, but summer residents tend to move out in winter only to be replaced by slightly darker horned larks that apparently move in from farther north. Some snow buntings occasionally tag along with larks.

No guarantees, of course, but Mondovi area offers one of best possibilities for seeing snowy owls. These arctic migrants prefer high ground, tending to avoid hollows. They perch on fence posts, farm machinery, or can be found standing on snow. Note: Their pure white feathers stand out in winter, making snow look gray or bluish in comparison.

At Davenport, check out bird feeders at hospital on northeast side of town. Pine siskins, maybe. Bohemian waxwings occasionally found in towns along route feeding on mountain ash and crab apples.

Tall dense trees at Davenport cemetery one of several spots on route that can hold great horned owls, which begin nesting in winter. Keep distance to avoid flushing from nests. Not unusual to see mother owl on nest with clump of snow on head.

Any dense group of trees or shelter belts prime for birds ranging from black-capped chickadees to partridge. In mild conditions, lesser Canada geese feed in green winter wheat fields.

Most red-tailed hawks moved out in winter, but arctic-breeding rough-legged hawks move in to occupy perches atop power poles. You should see at least a dozen on this route.

Watch for short-eared owls, northern harriers, northern shrikes and prairie falcons launching off shorter perches and tall sage. Loggerhead shrikes generally absent until spring.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map: Lincoln County Winter Bird Drive

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest